Machine for moistening and sealing envelops.



No. ss0',57|.. Patented Aug. 8, I899. H. v. SICKEL & H. RIEHL, In. MACHINE FOB MOISTENING AND SEALING ENVELUPS.

(Application filed Aug. 18, 1898.) (No Model.) 3 Shoots-Sheet l.

I I I I No. 630,57l. Patented Aug. 8, I899. H. V. SICKEL &. H. RIEHL, 1R. MACHINE FOB MOISTEN'ING AND SEALING ENVELOPS.

(Application filed Aug. 18, 189B.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2,

6N0 Modal.)

N0. 630,57]. Patented Aug. 8, I899.

H'. SICKEL &. H. RIEHL, IR. MACHINE FOR NIOISTENING AND SEALING ENVELOPS.

(Application filed Aug. 18, 1898.)

3 SheetsSheet 3 (No Model.)

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UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD v. SICKEL AND HENRY RIEHL, JR., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENN- SYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR MOISTENING AND SEALING ENVELOPS,

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersiI 'atent No.630,571, dated. August 8, 1899. Application filed August 18 1898. serial No. 688,846. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HOWARD V. SIOKEL and HENRY RIEHL, J r. citizens of the United" States, residing in the city and countyof" Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ma chines for Moistening and Sealing Envelops,

which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

Our invention consists ofa machine for moistenin g and sealing envelops, &c. ,embody-' ing moistening and feed rollers, a stop against which the envelop, &c., is thrust, a guide and guard for the envelop in its flight or passage from said rollers to said stop, and pressure or sealing rollers below said guide and guard, the bottom of the latter being open, the water applying device being verticallymovable with the moistening-roller, so that said parts retain their adjusted distance regardless of the varying thickness of envelops, 850., passed between the moistening and feed rollers, the guide and guard and a sealing-roller being yieldingly mounted so as to admit envelope," &c. of varying thickness between the sealing rollers and preserve the relation of the bottom of said guide and guard to the space between said rollers. The ends of the moistening and feed rollers on the side toward the feed-table are open and occupy a position in line with the side of the feed-table, the stop, and the space between the sealing-rollers, so

that the envelop, &c., is fed in comparatively upright position to the moistening-roller and direct to said stop, so that it reaches the sealing-rollers in the same position without the employment of an intermediate chute, as it falls almost immediately from the moistening-roller into the sealing-rollers.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a machine for moistening and sealing envelops embodying our invention. Fig. 2 represents a partial front end view and partial vertical section thereof on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 represents a horizontal section of a portion on line a a, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 5 represents a vertical section of, a portion of the moistening apparatus of the machine.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the'figures.

1 Referring to the drawings, A designates a stand or frame on which is mounted the driving-shaft B, to which power is imparted by the pulley O and belt or band D or other means in any suitable manner.

I A E designates the feed-table of the machine, the same being secured to the frame A at the front thereof and having an upright wall at the outer side thereof. end of said table, on the arm F of the frame A, is mounted the boss G, which forms the bearings for the shaft H, to one end of which is secured the pulley J, which by means of the belt K and the pulley L receives power from the shaft B, said shaft I-I having con- :nected with it the roller M, above which is the parallel roller N, the bearings of whose shaft N are in the boss P, which is attached vto the rising-and-falling arm Q, the latter being pivotally mounted on the arm F of the ,frame and having connected with it the spring ,R, which is also connected with the arm F or other fiXed member, whereby the roller N is Eheldin contact with the roller Mand permitit'ed to rise or yield when pressure is exerted upwardly on the roller N=due to increased thickness of envelops passed through said rollers, it being noticed that the rollers M and N are supported only at one end, in the'present case by the bosses G and P, while the opposite ends are free or open and unsupported and free in lateral direction, as most plainly shown at 00, Fig. 2, said roller extending transversely or in the direction of the width of the .machine,

S and-T designate rollers which extend in the longitudinal direction of the machine, and consequently at a right angle to the rollers M and N, and are located back of the latter, the roller S being mounted on the frame A and having connected with one of its journals the pulley U, which by means of the belt V and pulley W receives power from the shaft B.

The roller T is mounted on the swinging arms X, whose bearings are in the shaftY, mounted on the lower portion of the frame A, said roller being drawn toward and held in adjusted contact with the roller S by means Adjacent to the inner of the springs Z, which are connected with the adjacent arms X and fixed members of the frame, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. By this provision the roller T is permitted to yield, due to increased thickness of envelops passed through the rollers.

Mounted on the arm Q and located above the roller N is a water-supply box, reservoir, or receptacle A, which is provided with a faneet B, whose valve-stem has its head C milled or serrated at intervals, so as to be engaged by the pawl or spring D on said faucet,whereby the extent of opening and closing of said faucet may be controlled and the supply of water regulated.

Beneath the outlet or spout of the faucet is mounted the water-trough D in which is a pad or piece E of absorbent material in contact with the roller N, by which provision the surface of said roller may be kept in wet or moistened condition.

Below the rollers M N is supported the drip cup or pan F, which is properly supported and receives the excess of water from said roller and any splash, should the same be occasioned.

G designates a board or plate forming a guide and guard, which is slightly inclined and located approximately over the space between the rollers S and T, the same being supported on the arms H, which are attached to W the swinging arms X, so as to follow the latter when the roller T moves to and from the roller S relatively to the thickness of the envelops passing between said rollers.

In order to strengthen the plate G, the ends of the same have secured to them the flanges G the effect of which is evident.

On the side of the plate G toward the roller S, at the end opposite to the rollers M N, is the stop J, consisting of a vertically grooved or bent piece of metal or other material, which is located above the space between the two rollers S and T, or approximately so, said plate G causing the envelop to be unfailingly directed into the space between the rollers S and T without liability of striking the top of the stationarily-mounted roller S, it being noticed that the bottom of said plate is open, so that the envelops may slide down said plate without obstruction or detention on the part of said plate.

The operation is as follows: The envelops are partly opened and placed on the table in reversed position, the bodies of the envelops extending vertically and resting on the side wall of said table and the flaps horizontally, or nearly so. (See Fig. 1.) An envelop is pushed toward the rollers M N so that its flap passes between the same, while the body traverses along the open ends so of said rollers, laterally supported on and primarily guided by the inclined side wall of the feed-table, as shown in Fig. 1, it being noticed that the upper roller rotates by friction with the envelop, which receives motion from the lower roller, to which power is transmitted, as has been stated. ater is thus applied to the adhesive material of the flap, said material being above owing to the reversed position of the flap, and the envelop is then forcibly ejected from the rollers M N toward and against the stop, guided by the plate G, which has no bottom or is open at the bottom; but the [light of the envelop is sufficient to cause it to reach the stop J and be somewhat straightened by the latter, which occurs quickly after being moistened, the plate G preventing overturning of the envelop or loss of proper position. The envelop then slides down said plate, clears the bottom thereof, and drops flap foremost between said rollers S and T, whereby the moistened flap and the body are pressed together, thus sealing the envelop in a rapid, expeditious, and effective manner. Below the rollers S T is a basket or chute K, upon which the envelops as scaled are received, so that they may be collected or directed else- Where.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is r 1. In a moistening and sealing machine for envelops, &c., feed and moistening rollers, each having a hearing at one end only, a feedtable with an inclined supporting-plate on the side thereof at the unsupported ends of said rollers, and a vertically-arranged guide and guard plate rearward of said rollers practically as a continuity of said supporting-plate, a stop on the end of said guide and guard plate opposite to said rollers and sealing-rollers below said guide and guard plate parallel to the lower edge thereof.

2. In a moistening and sealing machine for envelops, (be. feeding and moistening rollers, a guide and guard plate adjacent thereto and sealing-rollers parallel with said plate, in combination with a yielding arm, said plate and one of said sealing'rollers being connected with said arm and movable therewith.

3. In a moistening and sealing machine for envelops, &c., feed and moistening rollers, a guide and guard plate extending rearward from the uncovered ends of said rollers, a stop on the end of said plate opposite to said rollers, said plate being somewhat vertical and open at its bottom, sealing-rollers parallel with said plate, and a yielding arm carrying said plate and one of said sealing-rollers.

t. In a moistening and sealing machine for envelops, a feed-roller, a moistening-roller above the same, and a yielding arm carrying said moistening-roller, in combination with a reservoir, and a water-applying device for the moistening-roller, a support for said device and reservoir,said device comprising atrough below the discharge-opening of said reservoir and a pad in said trough projecting downwardly therefrom and contacting with the moistening-roller.

5. Feed and moistening rollers supported at one end only, a guide and guard plate extending rearward from said rollers a stop on said plate opposite to said rollers, and sealing-rollers under said plate parallel to the edge thereof, all of said rollers being horizontally arranged, and the axes of the sealingrollers being at a right angle to those of the feed and moistening rollers, the bottom of said plate being above the space between said sealing-rollers, in combination with a feedtable, the terminal of the space between the feed and moistening rollers at the end next to the side of said feed-table being unobstructed, the aforesaid guide and guard wall being a practical continuity of the side wall of said feed-table rearward therefrom.

6. In a nioistening and sealing machine, feeding and moistening rollers, a guide and guard plate extending rearward from said rollers, sealing-rollers below said plate, and a a pad whose lower end contacts with said 0 moistening-roller.

HOWARD V. SIOKEL.

HENRY. RIEI-IL, J R. Witnesses:

WM. 0. WIEDERSHEIM, JOHN A. TIEDERSHEIM. 

